Disposable absorptive mat



July 21, 1964 R. P. FlTzPA'rRlcK 3,141,522

DISPOSABLE BSORPTIVE MAT Filed 001'.. 29, 1962 FIG.I.

FIG.2.`

- INVENTOR l Raymond R Fitzpatrick BEQJCML ATTORNEY United States PatentO 3,141,522 DISPGSABLE ABSRPTIVE MAT Raymond I. Fitzpatrick, 59 AberdeenRoad, Hauppauge, NX. Filed Oct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,845 2 Claims.(Cl. 1841-106) This invention relates generally to oil absorptivedevices and more particularly to an absorptive mat capable of absorbingsubstantial amounts of oil notwithstanding the relatively small areathereof.

Essentially, the primary function of the instant absorptive mat is toobviate the problems attendant with automobile engine oil-drip, e.g.,soiling and staining of garage floors, the most serious consequencethereof being the tracking of oil from the garage floor into the home.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned bypractice of the invention, the same being realised and attained by meansof the instrumentalities, construction, arrangements, combinations, andimprovements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together withthe description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, one end thereofbeing open and a layer of the side wall being broken away for purposesof illustration;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation cross-sectional view of the absorptive matin sealed operative form; and

FIGURE 3 is an illustration showing the device operatively positionedwithin a garage and beneath the engine area of an automobile.

Consonant with the foregoing, the primary object of the invention is toprovide a disposable absorptive mat capable of retaining a substantialvolume of oil, any oil absorbed thereby being held beneath the surfacethereof and concealed from sight.

Another object of the instant invention resides in the provision of amat having an absorptive-material receiving region, said region beingdisposed between an oilabsorptive and an oil-resistant surface.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device whichis compact and conveniently handled for placement, removal, and disposalas required.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of amat capable of retaining large volumes of oil relative to its shallowdepth, and having the advantageous quality of being incapable of beingspilled.

Another object of the invention is to provide an absorptive matt whichcan be relled with an oil-absorptive material thus permitting continueduse thereof or disposal thereof and replacement with a similar deviceaccording to the desire of the user.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of adevice of the instant character, the applications thereof, being myriadapart from the preferred application referred to herein.

Another object of the instant invention is the provision of a new anduseful absorptive mat accomplishing the objectives noted above, whichabsorptive mat is of extremely simple construction, economical ofmanufacture, and highly reliable in operation.

It will be understod that the foregoing general objectives and thefollowing detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory butare not restrictive of the invention.

A general understanding of the arrangement and location of the parts ofthe novel device may be had by reference to FIGURE 1 wherein thedisposable abice sorptive mat designated generally by numeral 1 is shownperspectively, flap 2 being illustrated in the open position thusproviding access to internal space 4 for filling thereof with anoil-absorptive substance 6 as shown in FIGURE 2 of the drawings.

Referring now in detail to FIGURE 2, a cross-sectional representation ofthe device, it will be observed that said disposable oil-absorptive matis comprised of an envelope having an oil-absorptive upper wall 8, and alower wall 10, said walls being opposingly disposed in spaced parallelrelation, side portions 12 and 14 and end portions 16 and 18, said sideand end portions connecting said upper and lower walls as shown. It willbe further observed that said side and end portions have a coating 20thereon, said coating being of an oil-resistant material as for examplepolyethylene resin, cellulose acetate, carboxymethyl cellulose, methylcellulose, vinyl alcohol, vinyl chloride-vinylidene chloride copolymer,vinylidene chloride-acrylonitrile resin or any other suitableoil-resistant coating comprising the present art. Application of saidoil-resistant material according to the present structure renders aconventional oil-absorbent paper bag, eg., applicable as an element ofthe present structure to effectuate the purpose of the presentinvention. To that end an absorptive mat is provided which will fulfillits absorbing function and entirely protect the supporting floor againstsoilage due to oil which would otherwise permeate the mat.

Of further import is the function of oil-absorptive substance 6, whichit will be appreciated substantially increases the absorptive capacityof the mat prior to saturation. Attapulgite (Mg,Al)5Si8O22(OH)4-4H2O, aclay mineral, is according to the present invention, preferred as theoil-absorptive substance utilized, although it will be understood thatother suitable oil-absorbent substances are within the contemplation ofthe invention. Accordingly, the oil-absorptive substance 6, preferablyin grauular or powdered form is receivable within the space 4 providedas shown in the drawings, llap 2 being sealed thereafter in any suitablemanner.

The preferred manner of employment of the device is shown in FIGURE 3,wherein the mat is shown positioned beneath the engine area of anautomobile,

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, itwill be understood that within the purview of this invention variouschanges may be made in the forms, details, proportion and arrangement ofparts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generallystated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects setforth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A disposable absorptive mat comprised of an envelope having opposingupper and lower walls disposed in spaced parallel relation; side and endportions connecting said walls; a powdered oil-absorptive substanceremovably lling the space between said opposing Walls; one end portionbeing an openable Hap providing access to within said space, said lowerwall and said side and end portions being coated with an oil-resistantmaterial, said upper wall being formed of oil-absorptive material.

2. An article as set forth in claim 1, wherein said oilabsorptivesubstance is attapulgite.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,057,162 Richey Oct. 13, 1936 2,619,653 Young Dec. 2, 1952 2,986,235Weibert May 30, 1961 3,062,323 Oganovic Nov.` 6, 1962

1. A DISPOSABLE ABSORPTIVE MAT COMPRISED OF AN ENVELOPE HAVING OPPOSINGUPPER AND LOWER WALLS DISPOSED IN SPACED PARALLEL RELATION; SIDE AND ENDPORTIONS CONNECTING SAID WALLS; A POWDERED OIL-ABSORPTIVE SUBSTANCEREMOVABLY FILLING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID OPPOSING WALLS; ONE END PORTIONBEING AN OPENABLE FLAP PROVIDING ACCESS TO WITHIN SAID SPACE, SAID LOWERWALL AND SAID SIDE AND END PORTIONS BEING COATED WITH AN OIL-RESISTANTMATERIAL, SAID UPPER WALL BEING FORMED OF OIL-ABSORPTIVE MATERIAL.